The regime in Venezuela announced on Monday that the sitting President Nicolás Maduro won the election, but the opposition and critics believe that the election is rigged. Opposition candidate Edmundo González actually received twice as many votes, they claim.
In a joint statement after a phone call, where the situation in Venezuela was discussed, US President Joe Biden and Brazil's Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva are demanding more transparency.
"Critical moment"
The two presidents "agreed on the need for the Venezuelan electoral authorities to immediately release full, transparent, and detailed voting data at the polling station level". They also stated that the result represents "a critical moment" for democracy in that part of the world.
Large protests erupted as soon as the regime announced Maduro's victory – which later turned violent when security forces tried to stop them with tear gas and rubber bullets. At least four people have died and 44 been injured. According to Venezuela's Interior Minister Tarek William Saab, over 700 people have been arrested.
Widespread criticism
Venezuela's Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino said in a TV comment that the military was "fully loyal" to President Maduro.
The international criticism of the election has also been widespread. A large number of countries have demanded an independent review of the election – and Venezuela has responded by declaring diplomats from Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Peru, Panama, the Dominican Republic, and Uruguay as unwanted in the country.
